# US 10,245,794 B2 · Method of manipulating encapsulation of color changing materials > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,245,794 B2 - Document ID: US10245794B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/611,170 - Filed: 2017-06-01 - Published: 2017-09-21 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2014-03-24 - Assignees: adidas AG - Applicants: adidas AG - Inventors: Michel Reginald Pierre Joseph Lussier - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245794B2 ## CPC - B29C 71/04: by wave energy or particle radiation {, e.g. for curing or vulcanising preformed articles (during moulding, e.g. in a mould B29C35/08)} - A43B 1/0027: {made at least partially from a material having special colours} - B01J 13/0047: {containing a metal oxide} - G02F 1/092: {Operation of the cell; Circuit arrangements} - B29L 2031/48: Wearing apparel - G02F 2202/32: Photonic crystals - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS - G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES ## Abstract Methods of manipulating a color displayed by a transfer medium or substrate comprising iron oxide colloidal nanocrystals arranged within chains, wherein each chain of nanocrystals is encapsulated are described. The method includes (a) applying a magnetic field to the transfer medium or substrate to control the color displayed by the transfer medium or substrate; and (b) applying energy to at least some of the chains of nanocrystals at a level that destroys the encapsulation surrounding the chains of nanocrystals to which the energy is applied. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of manipulating a color displayed by a transfer medium or substrate comprising iron oxide colloidal nanocrystals arranged within chains, wherein each chain of nanocrystals is encapsulated, the method comprising: (a) applying a magnetic field to the transfer medium or substrate to control the color displayed by the transfer medium or substrate; (b) applying energy to at least some of the chains of nanocrystals at a level that destroys the encapsulation surrounding the chains of nanocrystals to which the energy is applied such that the nanocrystals are unable to adjust position within the chains of nanocrystals and within the transfer medium or substrate when the magnetic field is applied; and (c) applying the transfer medium or substrate to a material or article of wear to transfer the color to the material or article of wear. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising applying the energy to at least some of the chains of nanocrystals to soften the transfer medium or substrate immediately surrounding the chains of nanocrystals to which the energy is applied prior to applying the energy to at least some of the chains of nanocrystals at the level that destroys the encapsulation surrounding the chains of nanocrystals to which the energy is applied. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the transfer medium or substrate is applied to the material or article of wear to transfer the color to the material or article of wear prior to applying the energy to at least some of the chains of nanocrystals at a level that destroys the encapsulation surrounding the chains of nanocrystals to which the energy is applied. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the transfer medium or substrate is applied to the material or article of wear by silk screening, painting, powder coating, submersion, injection, or sublimation. ### Claim 5 A method of manipulating a color displayed by a raw material comprising iron oxide colloidal nanocrystals arranged within chains, wherein each chain of nanocrystals is encapsulated, the method comprising: (a) applying a magnetic field to the raw material; (b) applying energy to at least some of the chains of nanocrystals to soften materials within the raw material immediately surrounding the chains of nanocrystals to which the energy is applied; (c) adjusting a strength of the magnetic field to control the color displayed by the raw material; (d) applying additional energy to at least some of the chains of nanocrystals at a level that destroys the encapsulation surrounding the chains of nanocrystals to which the energy is applied such that the nanocrystals are unable to adjust position within the chains of nanocrystals and within the raw material when the magnetic field is applied; and (e) forming an article of wear from the raw material, wherein the raw material is manipulated prior to forming the article of wear. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, further comprising: unrolling the raw material proximate a first end of a platform, wherein the platform comprises a substantially flat surface and a gap therein; positioning an unrolled portion of the raw material adjacent the surface of the platform and the gap therein; and re-rolling the raw material proximate a second end of the platform. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the energy and the magnetic field are applied to a portion of the raw material positioned proximate the gap. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the raw material comprises a yarn or thread, and the method further comprises applying the energy and the magnetic field to the raw material as the raw material is being fed into a weaving loom or knitting machine. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, further comprising: placing the raw material on a platform, wherein the magnetic field is concentrated and oriented perpendicular to the platform; and applying the energy via a laser controlled by a numerical control device. ### Claim 10 A method of manipulating a color displayed by a transfer medium or substrate comprising iron oxide colloidal nanocrystals arranged within chains, wherein each chain of nanocrystals is encapsulated, the method comprising: (a) applying a magnetic field to the transfer medium or substrate; (b) applying energy to at least some of the chains of nanocrystals to soften materials within the transfer medium or substrate immediately surrounding the chains of nanocrystals to which the energy is applied; (c) adjusting a strength of the magnetic field to control the color displayed by the transfer medium or substrate; (d) applying additional energy to at least some of the chains of nanocrystals at a level that destroys the encapsulation surrounding the chains of nanocrystals to which the energy is applied such that the nanocrystals are unable to adjust position within the chains of nanocrystals and within the transfer medium or substrate when the magnetic field is applied; and (e) applying the transfer medium or substrate to a material or article of wear to transfer the color to the material or article of wear.